US congratulates Iraqi people, candidates, on election

The United States Friday sent its congratulations to the Iraqi people, government and candidates on the completion of their "successful election" after results confirmed a victory by former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi's Iraqiya list, dpa reported.

PJ Crowley, spokesman for the US State Department, noted the "overall integrity of the election," based on observations by international observers and more than 200,000 domestic observers.

They found "no evidence" of widespread or serious fraud, Crowley said.

"This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing democratic development of Iraq," Crowley said.

The results of the March 7 vote were released earlier Friday by Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission.

Allawi's Iraqiya list won 91 seats in the 325-seat parliament, edging out by two seats the State of Law coalition headed by his rival current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.